>>> J.D.

VANCE NOW LIKES D.J.

TRUMP.

!

!musiC@!!!musiC@!

>>> JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, JESSIE BALMERT, STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR "THE CINCINNATI INQUIRER."

TERRY CASEY, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.

DERRICK CLAY, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST.

J.D.

VANCE IS A CANDIDATE FOR U.S. SENATE IN OHIO, AND HE BEGINS HIS CAMPAIGN BY SAYING HE'S SORRY.

HE'S SORRY HE CALLED DONALD TRUMP NOXIOUS AND REPREHENSIBLE.

HE'S SORRY HE ONCE SAID HE COULD NOT STOMACH DONALD TRUMP AND VOTED FOR THE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE IN 2016.

>> SURE, LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE, I CRITICIZED TRUMP BACK IN 2016, AND I ASKED FOLKS NOT TO JUDGE ME BASED ON WHAT I SAID IN 2016 BECAUSE I'VE BEEN VERY OPEN ABOUT THE FACT THAT I DID SAY THOSE CRITICAL THINGS, AND I REGRET THEM.

AND I REGRET BEING WRONG ABOUT THE GUY.

I THINK THAT HE WAS A GOOD PRESIDENT, I THINK HE MADE A LOT OF GOOD DECISIONS FOR PEOPLE.

I THINK HE TOOK A LOT OF FLACK.

>> IT IS VANCE TAKING FLACK FROM OTHER REPUBLICANS IN THE RACE SAYING THEY ARE THE CANDIDATE CLOSEST TO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

WHICH J.D.

VANCE DO YOU BELIEVE, THE ONE FROM NOW OR THE ONE FROM 2016, WHO HAD HARSH THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE?

>> J.D.

VANCE IS GOING TO TRY TO MAKE IT ALL ABOUT POLICY.

BECAUSE HE SAYS HE'S VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE TRUMP POLICIES.

THE PERSONALITIES MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

BUT IT IS KIND OF A RADICAL CONSENSUS IN TERMS OF DO YOU HAVE A DEBATE IN THIS PRIMARY, WHICH IS 9 1/2 MONTHS AWAY, MORE ABOUT POLICIES OR MORE ABOUT PERSONALITIES?

THAT'S ALWAYS AN INTERESTING QUESTION OF POLITICS OF WHICH IS THOSE IS THE DOMINANT FACTOR.

BUT THIS SENATE RACE IS GOING TO BE BIG, AND IT WILL GET BIGGER, BECAUSE IT'S AGAINST STATE SENATOR MATT DOLELAND FROM CLEVELAND TO ANNOUNCE SOON, PLUS THE OTHERS, WE COULD BE UP TO A DOZEN CANDIDATES.

>> WE'LL GET TO THE FIELD IN A MOMENT.

WHAT J.D.

VANCE SAID WHAT HE'S SAYING NOW, IS I GOT IT WRONG.

I WAS WRONG ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.

IS THAT ENOUGH TO SATISFY DONALD TRUMP'S ARDENT SUPPORTERS?

>> WELL, SOME OF THEM WON'T BE SATISFIED WITH THAT.

BUT OTHERS WILL LIKE IT WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT THE POLICIES.

A LOT OF IT'S GOING TO BE WHERE IS DONALD TRUMP AT, AND DOES HE DECIDE TO ENDORSE?

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE'S SPECULATION, WHETHER IT'S IN THE -- WELL, THE 15th CONGRESSIONAL, HE'S CLEAR.

BUT IN THE SENATE RACE, IF HE DOESN'T HAVE SOMEBODY CLEARLY THAT HE LOVES OR HATES, HE MIGHT SIT IT OUT AND NOT RISK ENDORSING SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T MAKE IT.

>> JESSIE BALMERT, J.D.

VANCE IS KIND OF THE WILD CARD.

WE'RE NOT SURE HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY.

HE'S GOT MONEY, $10 MILLION IN HIS PAC, PROBABLY THE MOST MONEY OF ALL THE CANDIDATES.

BUT HE'S REALLY -- HE'S KNOWN ON FOX NEWS, HE'S KNOWN FOR THE BOOK THAT HE WROTE.

IS HE KNOWN AS AN OHIO POLITICIAN?

IS HE KNOWN IN OHIO POLITICS?

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, RIGHT, JESSIE?

>> YEAH, I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER IS HE ISN'T KNOWN IN OHIO POLITICS, BUT $10 MILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY TO MAKE YOURSELF KNOWN IN OHIO POLITICS.

I THINK HE'LL BE ABLE TO FUND-RAISE.

HE HAS A LOT OF CONNECTIONS TO VENTURE CAPITAL AS A VENTURE CAPITALIST.

HE HAS CONNECTIONS FROM, YOU KNOW, HE WAS A MARINE, HE WENT TO AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL.

SO I IMAGINE HE'LL BE ABLE TO RAISE SOME MONEY.

THERE'S A LOT OF CANDIDATES, AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY OR DONATE A LOT OF MONEY TO THEMSELVES OR THEIR CAMPAIGNS, LOAN THEIR CAMPAIGN SOME CASH.

SO IT'S WORRY ABOUT WHO IS GOING TO HAVE THE FUND-RAISING TO GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT TO REPUBLICAN VOTERS.

>> I SAW A PRESS RELEASE WITH THE OHIO DEMOCRATIC PARTY, CHIRPING AT J.D.

VANCE, IS J.D.

VANCE THE CANDIDATE THAT DEMOCRATS FEAR THE MOST IN THIS FIELD?

SHOULD HE WIN THE PRIMARY, IS HE THE MOST FORMIDABLE REPUBLICAN STATEWIDE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION?

>> YOU KNOW, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION, MIKE.

I THINK IF J.D.

VANCE IS THE CANDIDATE, THEN I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WELCOMING TIM RYAN AS OUR NEXT UNITED STATES SENATOR.

AND QUITE HONESTLY, WITH A NUMBER OF THE CANDIDATES THAT THE GOP HAS, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MEASURE UP TO TIM RYAN.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THESE CANDIDATES ON THE GOP SIDE HAVE MONEY.

MONEY IS NOT THE FACTOR HERE.

IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT PERSONALITY AND WHO GETS TO THE HEARTS OF THOSE GOP PRIMARY VOTERS.

AND I'M NOT SURE IF J.D.

VANCE IS THAT PERSON.

>> THAT GETS TO THE WHOLE POLICY VERSUS PERSONALITY DEBATE THAT TERRY MENTIONED AT THE START.

TERRY, IF DONALD TRUMP'S A FACTOR, PERSONALITY'S GOING TO WIN.

BUT HE'S NOT ON THE BALLOT.

HE'S GOING TO ENDORSE SOMEBODY, WE THINK.

BUT IS THAT ENOUGH TO HELP THAT CANDIDATE WIN THE PRIMARY?

IF DONALD TRUMP IS NOT ACTUALLY ON THE BALLOT HIMSELF?

>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE THAT HE ACTUALLY WILL ENDORSE SOMEBODY, BECAUSE HE HAS SOME TUGS AND PULLS TOWARDS JOSH BENDELL, FORMER STATE TREASURER.

THERE'S SOME OTHER PEOPLE LIKE A KEY CAR DEALER FROM CLEVELAND WHO COULD EASILY PUT IN $10 MILLION, $15 MILLION, ANOTHER MILLIONAIRE FROM CINCINNATI WHO MIGHT PUT IN A BUNCH.

A LOT OF VARIABLES.

AGAIN, 9 1/2 MONTHS AS ETERNITY IN POLITICS.

A MONTH'S A LOT OF TIME.

9 1/2 MONTHS, LOTS OF TWISTS AND TURNS CAN HAPPEN.

>> JESSIE BALMERT, TERRY MENTIONED THERE COULD BE OTHER CANDIDATES JUMPING IN, THERE'S ALREADY SEVERAL.

DO WE EXPECT MORE TO JUMP IN?

>> TERRY MENTIONED IT.

I THINK STATE SENATOR MATT DOLAN IS GOING TO GET INTO THE RACE.

HIS HOPE IS TO FIND THAT KIND OF MODERATE REPUBLICAN LANE, THE LANE THAT MAYBE ROB PORTMAN OR STEVE STIVERS DECIDED TO GET INTO THE RACE, INSTEAD OF LEADING THE OHIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WOULD HOPE TO FIND.

IF YOU GET A DOZEN CANDIDATES, THIS REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IS GOING TO GET QUITE FRACTURED.

AND ONE WHO'S ABLE TO REALLY CONSOLIDATE A CERTAIN BASE, WHETHER VERY PRO-TRUMP OR VERY MODERATE REPUBLICANS, IS GOING TO HAVE A BIT OF A LEG UP.

>> TERRY, A NUMBER OF CANDIDATES, SPLITTING THE VOTE, IT WON'T TAKE AS MANY VOTES, A PERCENTAGE, TO WIN THE PRIMARY, CAN'T AN ANTI-DONALD TRUMP CANDIDATE WIN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IF ALL THE OTHER ONES ARE SCRAMBLING TO GET THE DONALD TRUMP VOTE, SPLIT THAT UP?

>> WELL, THE POLLING PEOPLE SAY THERE'S A CERTAIN SEGMENT WHO ARE NOT 100% ALL THE WAY ON TRUMP.

BUT I'M NOT SURE GOING OUT AND BEING ANTI-TRUMP REALLY GETS YOU THAT MANY VOTES.

BECAUSE THEN IT INVITES PEOPLE ATTACKING YOU.

AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE A FIELD OF 12 CANDIDATES AND SIX OR SEVEN WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND CERTAIN ISSUES, THEN THERE'S NAME I.D., YOU'VE GOT THESE MULTIPLE VARIABLES THAT MAKES IT HARD TO PREDICT.

SO I'M NOT SURE BEING ANTI-TRUMP IS THE BEST WAY, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO MIGHT THOUGHT LIKE TRUMP PERSONALLY OR FROM A PERSONALITY STANDPOINT LIKE A LOT OF HIS POLICIES.

SO IT'S, AGAIN THAT QUESTION OF HOW MUCH IT'S ABOUT POLICY, HOW MUCH IT'S ABOUT PERSONALITY.

>> DERRICK CLAY, TIM RYAN, YOU MENTIONED HE'S THE LIKELY NOMINEE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE UNLESS SOMEBODY ELSE GETS IN THE THE RACE, WHICH SEEMS UNLIKELY AT THIS POINT ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE.

DOES HE WISH HE HAD A PRIMARY OPPONENT IN SOME WAYS?

ALL THE ATTENTION IS GOING TO THE REPUBLICANS FOR THE NEXT NINE MONTHS OR SO.

>> I DON'T THINK SO, MIKE.

I THINK THAT -- FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY THE DEMOCRATS ARE UNIFIED ON THIS NOMINEE FOR THE U.S. SENATE IN TIM RYAN.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO GIVE HIM MORE TIME TO REALLY CONCENTRATE ON GETTING HIS CAMPAIGN COFFERS UP, AS WELL AS MAKING TALKING POINTS ABOUT WHAT THE GOP CANDIDATES ARE GOING TO BE FIGHTING OVER FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>>> HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE STILL TRYING TO GET VACCINES INTO THE ARMS OF RELUCTANT OR PROCRASTINATING OHIOANS.

THE CITY OF COLUMBUS IS OFFERING $100 TO FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENTS WHO GET SHOTS AT CERTAIN CLINICS.

IT'S CALLED "VAX FOR CASH."

ACTUALLY, CASH CARDS.

CLEVER MARKETING TACTICS MAY NOT WORK.

A STUDY OUT OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY SAYS OHIO'S "VAX A MILLION" LOTTERY DID NOT INCREASE OHIO'S VACCINE RATE ANY MORE THAN RATES IN STATES THAT DID NOT HOLD LOTTERIES.

THE DeWINE ADMINISTRATION SAID THE STUDY IS FLAWED AND SAYS IT SAW A SIGNIFICANT JUMP IN ADULT VACCINATIONS THE FIRST WEEK OF THE LOTTERY, BUT THE ADMINISTRATION ADMITS EXCITEMENT AND THE VACCINES WANED IN THE REMAINING FOUR WEEKS.

JESSIE BALMERT, THE DeWINE ADMINISTRATION IS POINTING TO ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE, BUT THE STUDY HAS CLEAR NUMBERS THAT SHOWS OHIO CAME UP A LITTLE BIT, BUT SO DID OTHER STATES IN MAY WHEN THIS VACCINE LOTTERY WAS ANNOUNCED.

>> YES.

A LOT OF FACTORS AT PLAY WHEN THE VACCINE LOTTERY WAS ANNOUNCED.

OBVIOUSLY $1 MILLION TO POTENTIALLY WIN IF YOU GOT VACCINATED WAS AN EXCITING THING THAT GOT A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION, EARNED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MEDIA FROM THE KIND OF STUMPED, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TURN.

IT WAS ALSO AROUND THAT TIME THAT THE CDC WAS PUTTING OUT GUIDELINES ON IF YOU'RE UNVACCINATED -- IF YOU'RE VACCINATED, YOU COULD DO MORE THINGS.

AROUND THAT TIME THE 12 TO 16-YEAR-OLDS WERE ABLE TO GET VACCINATED.

SO THERE WAS A LOT HAPPENING IN AROUND THAT TIME THAT PUT A LOT OF ATTENTION ON VACCINES AND GETTING THOSE VACCINES.

SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO ME THAT THE FIRST WEEK OF THE "VAX A MILLION" IS WHERE ALL THE EXCITEMENT HAPPENED.

THEN IT KIND OF TAPERED OFF FROM THERE.

>> DERRICK, SHOULD THE STATE HAVE SPENT THAT $5 MILLION IN THE PRIZE MONEY?

THEY SPENT MONEY IN MARKETING AS WELL.

SHOULD THE STATE HAVE SPENT THAT MONEY ON OTHER THINGS IF IT REALLY DIDN'T HAVE THAT BIG OF AN IMPACT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, $5 MILLION COULD HAVE WENT A LONG WAY IN EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE VACCINE -- ABOUT COVID-19, ABOUT WHERE YOU COULD GET VACCINATED.

SO THERE COULD HAVE BEEN OTHER WAYS IN WHICH YOU COULD HAVE SPENT THAT MONEY.

IT WAS A GIMMICK TO PUT $5 MILLION OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T GETTING VACCINATED OR COULD WIN THAT MONEY TO GET VACCINATED.

BUT THERE IS AN ARGUMENT THAT YOU COULD HAVE SPENT THAT MONEY IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS, YOU KNOW, GETTING TRANSPORTATION TO FOLKS THAT NECESSARILY DIDN'T HAVE MEANS TO GET TO THE VACCINATION SITES, YOU KNOW.

DOING MORE POPUP VACCINATION SITES.

EDUCATION, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE.

SO $5 MILLION COULD HAVE WENT A LONG WAY IN THAT REGARD.

AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THE STATE DID GET A LOT OF MONEY -- DID GET A LOT OF RESIDUAL VALUE OUT OF GETTING SOME EXPOSURE.

BUT IF THE EXPOSURE DIDN'T LEAD TO PEOPLE GETTING THEIR VACCINATIONS, THEN WHAT GOOD WAS IT?

>> TERRY, WAS IT MONEY WELL SPENT?

OR SHOULD WE HAVE SPENT THAT MONEY IN OTHER AREAS?

>> I THINK IT WAS MONEY WELL SPENT.

IT GOT ABOUT $50 MILLION OF FREE PUBLICITY AND ATTENTION.

BUT THE REALLY BIG PROBLEM RIGHT NOW IN OHIO AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY IS THERE'S A LOT OF YOUNGER AND RURAL PEOPLE WHO EITHER FEEL THEY'RE INVINCIBLE OR THAT THE PROBLEM IS MORE DISTANT AND AWAY FROM THEM.

AND THE SAD THING IS WITH ALL THE VARIANTS, MAYBE THAT WILL WAKE PEOPLE UP TO REALIZE THAT THEY NEED THAT PROTECTION, THAT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO THINK IT'S MAINLY SOMEBODY ELSE THAT'S AT RISK AND THEY AREN'T AT RISK.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME, AND SADLY THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE PEOPLE INFECTED AND HAVING PROBLEMS.

BUT I THINK THE LEADERSHIP THE GOVERNOR SHOWED WITH THIS PROGRAM AND THE OTHER THINGS THEY'VE BEEN DOING, IT'S GREAT.

BUT AGAIN, THERE'S JUST SOME PEOPLE -- BECAUSE THIS PROGRAM GOT POLITICIZED ON BOTH SIDES, LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR, AND IT'S MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO OVERCOME SOME OF THOSE MISCONCEPTIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE.

>>> ON AVERAGE, THE PAST THREE WEEKS, 12 OHIOANS DIE EVERY DAY FROM COVID-19.

IT'S MORE THAN 100 A WEEK DYING FROM COVID.

EVIDENCE IS CLEAR THAT A VACCINE WILL KEEP YOU FROM GETTING VERY SICK AND LIKELY KEEP YOU FROM DYING.

JESSIE BALMERT, MANDATING EMPLOYEES HAVE TO GET THE COVID VACCINE, A HOSPITAL MANDATING A VACCINE.

BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DEBATE AT THE STATEHOUSE OVER WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD -- ANY ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE MANDATING THEIR FOLKS GET THE VACCINE.

>> YEAH, CORRECT.

THERE'S ACTUALLY BILL THAT'S ON GOVERNOR DeWINE'S DESK RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD PROHIBIT PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOLS FROM REQUIRING VACCINES THAT HAVEN'T HAD THE FULL FDA APPROVAL.

SO COVID-19 VACCINES ARE APPROVED UNDER EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION, WHICH HAS A PRETTY VIGOROUS STANDARD.

BUT OHIO LAWMAKERS WOULD LIKE TO PREVENT THAT REQUIREMENT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING WHAT DeWINE DOES WITH THAT BILL.

>> SPEAKING OF UNIVERSITIES, LOOKING AT OHIO UNIVERSITIES, FIVE UNIVERSITIES IN OHIO NOW MANDATING FOLKS GET THE VACCINE.

OHIO WESLEYAN IS THE CLOSEST.

KENYON COLLEGE ALSO REQUIRING IT.

CLEVELAND STATE IS A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY UP NORTH THAT'S REQUIRING FOLKS TO GET THE VACCINE.

DERRICK, SHOULD MORE ORGANIZATIONS, MORE SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR, MANDATE THEIR STAFF AND STUDENTS GET THE VACCINE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, BY NOT GETTING THE VACCINE, YOU'RE PUTTING OTHER PEOPLE AT RISK.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GET THE VACCINE AND YOU WORK IN AN ORGANIZATION, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE THE OPTION OF NOT WORKING IN THAT ORGANIZATION.

YOU KNOW?

IF YOU WORK IN A HOSPITAL AND YOU'RE TREATING PATIENTS, YOU SHOULD HAVE THE VACCINE.

YOU'RE AT RISK OF PUTTING PEOPLE'S IN HARM'S WAY IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE VACCINE.

YOU'RE AT RISK OF PUTTING YOURSELF AT HARM AND PUTTING OTHERS AT HARM.

ABSOLUTELY THERE SHOULD BE SOME MANDATES AROUND GETTING THE VACCINE FOR A VIRUS THAT HAS BEEN AS DEADLY AS COVID-19.

>> TERRY CASEY, LOOKING AT THE BIG TEN SCHOOLS, WE OFTEN COMPARE OHIO STATE TO THE BIG TEN SCHOOLS.

6 OF THE 14 UNIVERSITIES HAVE MANDATED VACCINES.

MICHIGAN MANDATES THE VACCINE.

MICHIGAN STATE DOES NOT.

INDIANA MANDATES THE VACCINE, PERDUE DOES NOT.

WHAT'S THE ANSWER WITH MANDATES?

>> THE PROBLEM IS, IF YOU MANDATE IT AS NOTED EARLIER ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S STILL APPROVED ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS, YOU RUN THE RISK, IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE.

THERE'S SOME PEOPLE THAT RESENT IT WHEN GOVERNMENT REQUIRES SOMETHING.

AND CLEARLY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY THERE'S HISTORY AND PAST.

THAT EXISTS SOME TODAY, RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, POLITICALLY.

SO MANDATING IS INTERESTING.

IT'S A WAY TO GET IT DONE.

BUT IT ALSO CAN DEEPEN THE POLITICAL DIVIDE OVER VACCINES AND WHETHER GOVERNMENT CAN MANDATE WHAT YOU DO HEALTH-WISE, WHETHER GOVERNMENT CAN GO DOOR TO DOOR AND CHECK WHETHER OR NOT YOU'VE HAD IT OR NOT.

>> OSU IS OFFERING $50,000 IN PRIZES TO STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FACULTY IF THEY GET THE VACCINE.

THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE AWAY CASH CARDS, BETWEEN $100 AND $1,000.

PARKING PASSES, SEASON TICKETS TO THE OSU FOOTBALL GAMES.

SO THERE YOU GO, 50,000 INCENTIVES.

>>> EARLY VOTING BEGAN THIS WEEK AT OHIO'S 15 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS FOR A SPECIAL PRIMARY TO DECIDE WHO WILL FACE EACH OTHER TO FILL THE SEAT VACATED BY STEVE STIVERS.

WHAT THAT DISTRICT LOOKS LIKE A YEAR FROM NOW REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

THE MAP-MAKING BEGINS THIS SUMMER WITH THE RELEASE OF CENSUS DATA.

LAWMAKERS WILL DRAW NEW DISTRICTS FOR STATE, HOUSE, AND SENATE DISTRICTS AS WELL AS OHIO'S EXPECTED 15 NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, DOWN ONE FROM THE CURRENT NUMBER OF 16.

POLITICO REPORTS THIS WEEK THAT REPUBLICANS IN SOME DEEPLY RED STATES ARE CONSIDERING EXTREME GERRYMANDERING, BREAKING UP EVEN THE FEW DEMOCRATIC DISTRICTS IN THEIR STATES.

DERRICK CLAY, WE'RE WORKING UNDER A NEW SYSTEM NOW.

THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN HERE BECAUSE OF THE RULES.

THEY HAVE TO KEEP DISTRICTS COMPACT TO SOME DEGREE, CORRECT?

>> YES.

DISTRICTS HAVE TO BE COMPACT.

THERE'S RULES ON WHERE YOU CAN BREAK DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.

I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A RULE WHERE YOU CAN'T BREAK A COUNTY TWICE.

YOU KNOW, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS REDISTRICTING SHOULD BE A PUBLIC PROCESS.

AND IT HAS NOT BEEN A VERY PUBLIC PROCESS HERE LATELY.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS HAD MONTHS, MONTHS TO PUT TOGETHER HEARINGS ON REDISTRICTING SO THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROCESS IS, FOR ONE.

WHAT REDISTRICTING IS, FOR ANOTHER.

AND THEY HAVE NOT DONE THAT.

THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT CONVENED THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LEFT WITH, WHEN WE DO GET THE DATA, WHICH IS GOING TO BE IN LATE AUGUST, THAT WE HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GET THINGS THAT ARE CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED DONE.

LIKE A PUBLIC SUBMISSION BILL.

MAKING SURE THAT THE PUBLIC CAN HAVE SOME INPUT INTO HOW THESE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT UP IN TOLEDO, IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT IT GOES FROM THEY'D DOUGH ALL THE WAY ACROSS TO CLEVELAND.

THAT'S NOT GOOD REPRESENTATION.

THAT'S A GERRYMANDERED DISTRICT.

AND YOU SEE EXAMPLES OF THAT ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF OHIO.

>> JESSIE BALMERT, WHAT IS GOING DOWN AT THE STATEHOUSE?

WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE OFFICIAL CENSUS DATA UNTIL MID TO LATE AUGUST.

NAIVELY, CAN I ASSUME THERE'S NO MAPMAKING GOING ON AT THE STATEHOUSE RIGHT NOW, DRAFTING POSSIBLE MAPS?

OR IS THIS STUFF GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES AND THEY'LL PRESENT IT IN AUGUST WHEN WE GET THE OFFICIAL NUMBERS?

>> YOU CAN ASSUME THAT.

BUT I IMAGINE THERE ARE PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT.

TO DERRICK'S POINT THERE HASN'T BEEN A LOT OF PUBLIC MEETINGS, PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT REDISTRICTING IN OHIO.

I THINK IT'S A TOPIC THAT OHIO VOTERS ARE GOING TO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN.

THEY VOTED ON THIS ISSUE IN 2015 AND 2018.

AND SO I THINK PEOPLE ARE MORE AWARE OF WHAT REDISTRICTING IS, WHAT GERRYMANDERING IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE STAKE ON THE LAKE MAP LOOKS LIKE.

I THINK THERE IS SOME INTEREST IN THIS FROM VOTERS AND IT BEHOOVES EVERYONE TO DO IT IN A PUBLIC MANNER.

THIS IS ALSO A VERY INVOLVED PROCESS.

THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS, TO GET A 10-YEAR MAP, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE TOTAL, A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE MINORITY PARTY, WHICH RIGHT NOW IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THEN IT COULD GO TO COMMISSION, THEN BACK TO THE LAWMAKERS.

IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE THE EVENT LATER THIS YEAR.

>> TERRY CASEY, PARTICULARLY WITH THE DEMOCRATIC RACES, WITH THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY SO THIN IN WASHINGTON, REPUBLICANS ARE REALLY LOOKING AT THIS PROCESS TO TRY TO WIN BACK THE MAJORITY.

THERE HAS TO BE A LOT OF PRESSURE ON OHIO LAWMAKERS TO NOT PLAY BALL WITH DEMOCRATS AND MAKE THIS A TRULY NONPARTISAN PROCESS, CORRECT?

>> WELL, THE PROCESS IS NEVER GOING TO BE PERFECT, AND YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO HAVE 99 OHIO HOUSE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS ALL EXACTLY COMPACT AND ALL EXACTLY EQUAL COMPETITIVE.

AND THE CONGRESSIONAL, THE OTHER WRINKLE IS LEGALLY, JUDGES HAVE SAID IN THE PAST AND IT CONTINUES, EVERY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT HAS GOT TO BE EQUAL TO A DEVIATION OF ONE SINGLE PERSON.

AND SO WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO PLAY WITH LITTLE BITS AND PIECES TO MAKE EACH ONE OF THESE 15 DISTRICTS EXACTLY EQUAL IN POPULATION, IT IS VERY COMPLEX.

BUT I THINK THEY'LL GET IT DONE.

AND CLEARLY, JOYCE BEATTY IS GOING TO WANT A FRANKLIN COUNTY DISTRICT THAT'S TO HER LINING.

BUT FRANKLIN COUNTY'S GOING TO BE UP TO ABOUT 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE BITS AND PIECES OF FRANKLIN COUNTY THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO SOME OTHER DIRECTIONS BECAUSE YOU JUST CAN'T TAKE ALL OF FRANKLIN COUNTY AND HAVE IT BE ONE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WITH 800,000 PEOPLE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF REALITIES OF MATH AND NUMBERS TO MAKE IT ALL WORK.

AND BY THE WAY, WATCH SENATOR MATT HOFFMAN FROM LIMA, THE STATE SENATE PRESIDENT.

HE HELPED WRITE THESE NEW LAWS, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

HE'S VERY SHARP LEGALLY.

AND HE KNOWS THAT THE OHIO SUPREME COURT, WHICH IS CLOSELY DIVIDED, AND THAT'S A REASON WHY REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT TO OVERREACH, BUT DON'T EXPECT PERFECTION BECAUSE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.

>> OKAY.

>>> IN 2020 AS THE NUMBER OF MURDERS IN COLUMBUS HIT A RECORD HIGH, OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS PUT SOME OF THE BLAME ON COVID.

YOUNG PEOPLE STRESSED OUT BY THE PANDEMIC AND LEFT WITH NOTHING TO DO TURNED TO VIOLENCE.

BUT IN 2021, WITH THE PANDEMIC EASING, THINGS ARE GETTING BACK TO NORMAL.

THE CITY IS STILL ON PACE TO SURPASS LAST YEAR'S RECORD IN THE NUMBER OF MURDERS.

NEW POLICE CHIEF ELAINE BRYANT HAS MADE SOME CHANGES, INCLUDING ADDING POLICE PATROLS TO CITY PARKS.

TERRY CASEY, CRIME RATES GO UP AND DOWN, BUT THEY HAVE GONE UP STEADILY OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE REASON BEHIND THESE MURDERS AND INCREASE THE SHOOTINGS?

>> WELL, PART OF IT IS IF YOU TALK TO SOME OF THE EXPERTS, THEY'LL TELL YOU IT'S GANGS AND GUNS ARE TWO PARTS OF IT.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY RED, WHITE AND BLUE DIDN'T HAPPEN THIS SUMMER, YES, THEY SAID IT MORE CITY HALL'S FEAR OF THE VIOLENCE AND OTHER KIND THINGS HAPPENING IN THE DOWNTOWN.

AND I THINK THE NEW POLICE CHIEF IS RIGHT, WE NEED MORE PROTECTION IN THE PARKS, BUT IT'S ALL OVER COLUMBUS.

AND CLEARLY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND ELIZABETH BROWN ARE WRONG WHEN THEY TRY TO STOP NEW POLICE CLASSES.

WE NEED MORE POLICE.

AND I'M HEARING GOOD SIGNS THAT MAYBE THE F.O.P.

AND CITY HALL MIGHT COME TO AN AGREEMENT CLOSER AND BETTER THAN WHAT PEOPLE MIGHT THINK.

WE'VE GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO BECAUSE THE CRIME RATE, MURDER RATE IS WAY TOO HIGH.

>> ARE MORE OFFICERS THE ANSWER TO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, DERRICK CLAY?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S NECESSARILY THE WRONG ANSWER.

IT'S A PART OF THE ANSWER, YES.

WE DO NEED MORE POLICE ON THE STREETS IN COLUMBUS.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR A CITY OF OUR SIZE, WE DEFINITELY NEED MORE POLICE ON THE STREET.

HOWEVER, TERRY IS RIGHT IN THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GANGS.

WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GUNS ON THE STREET, ILLEGAL GUNS.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB AS A COMMUNITY TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUTH.

WE HAVE TO HIT THEM YOUNG.

WE'VE GOT TO GET THESE KIDS WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG SO THAT THEY HAVE THINGS TO DO DURING THE SUMMER AND HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT.

THE PANDEMIC, YES, THAT IS -- HAVING THE PANDEMIC AND PEOPLE COOPED UP IN THEIR HOME, YES, I'M SURE THAT THAT WAS PART OF THE ISSUE.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, IF WE HAVE TO MAKE A WAY FOR OUR YOUTH, AT A YOUNG AGE, MAKE SURE THEY'RE INVOLVED IN PROGRAMS.

WHETHER THAT'S CITY FUNDED, WHETHER THAT'S PRIVATELY FUNDED.

AND MAKE SURE THAT THESE KIDS ACTUALLY HAVE SOME EMPLOYMENT THAT PAYS THEM AT A LIVEABLE WAGE.

>> TERRY CASEY, REAL QUICK, 30 SECONDS.

WHAT ABOUT GUNS?

I THINK MOST AGREE THERE'S TOO MANY GUNS ON THE STREET.

WHAT ABOUT A GUN BUY-BACK PROGRAM?

OTHER CITIES DO IT.

SHOULD COLUMBUS TRY THAT?

>> I THINK OTHER CITIES LIKE CHICAGO HAVE TRIED IT.

IT HELPS A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S ONLY A TINY FRACTION OF THE PROBLEM.

SO CLEARLY, I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS THE POLICE NEED TO HAVE CLEARER DIRECTION FROM CITY HALL AS FAR AS WHAT THEY CAN DO SO YOU DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEMS ON CHITTENDEN AVENUE WHAT WE HAVE DOWNTOWN.

GUNS ARE PART OF IT, BUT THERE'S OTHER FACTORS INVOLVED.

>>> TIME FOR OUR "OFF THE RECORD" PARTING SHOTS.

DERRICK CLAY, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> NOT NECESSARILY A PARTING SHOT, BUT THE NEW COLUMBUS CREW STADIUM IS A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO OUR DOWNTOWN.

IT COMPLETES THE ARENA DISTRICT IN TERMS OF THE BLUE JACKET STADIUM, HUNTINGTON PARK, NOW THE LOWER.COM BUILD.

IT'S A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO OUR STATE.

>> IT WAS QUITE THE SCENE FOR THEIR FIRST GAME.

TERRY CASEY, YOUR PARTING COMMENTS?

>> 15th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, IT'S ONLY THREE WEEKS TO THE PRIMARY.

ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS BETWEEN ENDORSEMENTS, RIGHT TO LIFE, FARMERS, WHICH MAKES THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE?

VIRTUALLY NOBODY IS VOTING EARLY IN THAT BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THE 15th CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY IS COMING UP ON AUGUST 3rd.

>> YES.

SO IF YOU'RE IN THAT DISTRICT, VOTE NOW, OR VOTE ON AUGUST 3rd.

BOTH DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN THAT RACE.

JESSIE BALMERT, YOUR FINAL THOUGHT?

>> OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY MADE "JEOPARDY!"

NEWS THIS WEEK WHEN THEY WERE A QUESTION ABOUT WHICH SCHOOL TRIED TO TRADEMARK THE WORD "THE."

>> YES, WE KNOW WHO THAT WAS.

AND SHE HAD IT RIGHT, WHICH WAS GREAT.

MY COMMENT, MIKE DeWINE SHOULD HAVE TRADEMARKED "VAX A MILLION."

MASSACHUSETTS HAS "VAX MILLION."

FIVE $1 MILLION PRIZES, FIVE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS, SOUNDS FAMILIAR.

SEE IF IT WORKS THERE.

THAT IS "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK.

CHECK US OUT ONLINE, FACEBOOK, TWITTER.

SEE EPISODES AT WOSU.ORG/COTR.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.